Job Title: Farm Director

 

Schedule: Full-time 

Location: This position is based in the Veintisiete de Abril district of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Some international travel may be required.

Monthly Salary Range: 2,500,000-3,500,000 colones, dependent on experience

Start Date: As soon as possible

 

About Kosmos Farm: 

Kosmos Farm is a beautiful 1,000 acre property located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica with frontage on a cross street between Santa Cruz and the coast of Nicoya. It is uniquely positioned to support biodiversity by enhancing ecological connectivity within the Guanacaste Conservation Area, between Diria National Park and Ostional Wildlife Refuge. It has been largely unmanaged, with 445 acres (180 ha) of primary forest and 295 acres (120 ha) of timber plantations (58% teak, 42% melina and spiny cedar) and a small conventional cattle operation. Current and historical agricultural activities have contributed to soil erosion, drought and pollution through pesticide use.

 

The opportunity is to transform the property from tradition to regenerative and holistic land management, with an initial focus on:

  • Teak and melina removal and replacement with regenerative forestry

  • Restoring a biological corridor through restoring watershed connectivity and reforestation with native trees

  • Regenerative agriculture and cattle management including a transition to no pesticides

 

The farm will be a research and experimental farm aimed at advancing the knowledge and expansion of regenerative agriculture and regeneration. A key partner organization is Universidad de la Cooperación Internacionale (UCI).

 

Additionally, Kosmos will serve as the primary physical site for programs hosted through a Center for regenerative innovation and education, a concept which will be undergoing an R&D phase in 2024. 

 

Walking Softer is hiring a Director to lead the transformation of the property toward regenerative land stewardship, including overseeing regenerative agriculture, forestry, grazing, cropping, and stream restoration.



Responsibilities: 

  • Be responsible for the general management and execution of land stewardship on the farm;

  • Develop a strategy to establish an exemplary regenerative agriculture and production program at Kosmos, including vegetables and fruits, cattle, chickens, honey production, and others;

  • Secure stakeholder buy-in on regenerative agriculture research experiments and goals, ensuring thoughtfully planned processes and desired outcomes; 

  • Oversee budgets and financial planning;

  • Lead and grow a local operational team on-site;

  • Develop and oversee added-value processes on the farm;

  • Identify marketing opportunities for farm products and secure buyers;

  • Establish systems for keeping farm records of fieldwork accomplished, production activities and outputs, and sales/consumption/marketing;

  • Monitor and report KPIs;

  • Liaise across multiple external partners to deliver on a collaborative and emergent vision and strategy, as reflected in the budget, staff, and priorities of the farm;

  • Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the Walking Softer and ensure open communication about the measurement of financial, programmatic and impact performance against milestones and goals;

  • Serve as the main point of contact for Walking Softer on the planning and operations related to Kosmos;

  • Work closely with a regenerative agriculture expert and consultant;

  • Collaborate with the Research and Innovation Director on R&D for a Center for regenerative education and innovation which will host programs at Kosmos;

  • Collaborate with the biodiversity monitoring and community engagement teams;

  • Serve as a respected and trustworthy local representative for Walking Softer

  • Play an integral role in the development of an ambitious, early-stage initiative with a passionate and skilled team.

 

Qualifications:

 

Leadership, Management and Operational Skills

  • Excellent leadership, management, and administrative abilities, including 5+ years experience leading and managing teams of people;

  • Excellent operational and financial management skills, including the ability to develop plans, financial projections, and efficient operational systems and processes in a high-pressure environment;

  • Highly detail-oriented and financially savvy;

  • Excellent verbal/written communication, presentation, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills;

  • Politically astute and culturally sensitive, with the ability to communicate effectively across multicultural environments;

  • Strong coalition-building skills and persuasive negotiator with an ability to communicate and build consensus with a variety of internal and external stakeholders;

  • Flexible and comfortable with ambiguity;

  • Able to respond adeptly to rapidly changing priorities and dynamics, energized under tight deadlines and working under pressure; 

 

Farming experience

  • Previous experience in farming and agricultural administration;

 

Values and cultural alignment 

  • Previous experience in and a passion for responsible and meaningful community engagement;

  • Ability and passion for integrating and principles of social justice and equity in project design;

  • Strong commitment to the professional development of staff; successful track record of recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented team;

  • Open-minded and adaptive, with a learning and growth mindset;

  • Willingness to unlearn conventional agricultural approaches;

  • Cares deeply about sustainability and the health of the planet.

 

Language

  • Excellent working proficiency in both English and Spanish;

 

Our Ideal Candidate:

  • Experience in regenerative or sustainable farming or permaculture, including the principles and application of regenerative agriculture and holistic cattle management;

  • An entrepreneur and builder, with experience in fundraising, marketing/branding, and fiscal management;

  • Experience with the principles and application of regenerative development;

  • Previous experience working with global organizations.

 

About Walking Softer: 

Walking Softer is a young climate and environmental foundation founded in September 2020, on a mission to inspire, connect, and support changemakers to take bold and immediate action in the conservation and regeneration of our planet. 

 

About UCI: 

UCI is a globally recognized university that aims to lead global regeneration whereby human activities result in positive outcomes for business, community, and nature. UCI offers  academic programs that promote regenerative and evolutionary development, in a complex, diverse and changing world, through innovative methodologies that promote multiculturalism.



Applications:

To apply for this position, please send a resume/CV and a brief written statement of why you are interested in this position.

The initial submission period for applications will be 3/4/24-3/17/24, and after that on a rolling basis until the position is filled.